CHAPTER III
THE CIRCUS MAKES A CALL
While the band played, the clown wagon came to a halt andthe whole body of funny men sang a song in front of Mrs.Cahill's house, while the widow and her two young guestsapplauded enthusiastically.
As the clown's wagon drew on, a horse ridden by a young woman wasseen dashing straight at the dooryard fence, which it took in agraceful leap, causing the Widow Cahill to gasp her amazement.The rider was none other than Little Dimples, the star barebackrider of the Sparling Shows, who had chosen this way to payhomage to her young associates and to Mrs. Cahill as well.
It was an unusual procedure in a circus parade, but though it hadbeen arranged by Mr. Sparling out of the kindness of his heart,he shrewdly reasoned that it would make good business for theshow as well. That the people lined up along the street agreedwith his reasoning was evidenced by their shouts of applause.
"Mrs. Cahill, this is our very good friend, Mrs. Robinson,otherwise known as Little Dimples," announced Phil proudly.
Mrs. Cahill bowed and smiled, not the least bit embarrassed.
"You haven't introduced my pony, Phil. The pony is part oflittle me, you know."
"I beg pardon, Mrs. Cahill; let me introduce to you Mrs.Robinson's pony, Cinders, who, though he cannot talk, comespretty close to it," said Phil, with great dignity.
Cinders bowed and bowed, the bits rattling against his teethuntil it sounded to the little gathering as if he were tryingto chatter his pleasure at the introduction.
"Now, shake hands with Mrs. Cahill, Cinders," directedLittle Dimples.
Cinders extended a hoof, which Mrs. Cahill touched gingerly.She was not used to shaking hands with horses. Teddy and Phil,however, each grasped the pony's extended foot, giving it a goodshake, after which Phil thrust a lump of sugar into the waitinglips of Cinders.
"Naughty boy!" chided Little Dimples, tapping the neck of hermount with the little riding crop she carried. "You would spoilhim in no time. I must be going, now. I hope we shall see youat the show this afternoon, Mrs. Cahill," smiled Dimples, herface breaking out into dimples and smiles.
The widow nodded.
"This afternoon and tonight. She is going to dine with us underthe cook tent this afternoon," Phil informed the rider.
"That will be fine."
Dimples nodded, tossed her whip in the air and clucking toCinders, went bounding over the fence. A moment more and shehad taken her place in the line and was moving along with theprocession, bowing and smiling.
"That's what I call right fine," glowed Mrs. Cahill. "Did yousay that little thing was Mrs. Robinson?"
"Yes."
"Why, she looks like a young girl."
"That's what I thought when I first saw her. But she has a sonas old as I am."
"Land sakes!" wondered Mrs. Cahill. "You never can tell aboutthese circus folks, anyhow."
Phil laughed heartily, but Teddy was too much interested in whatwas going on outside the fence to indulge in laughter. The bandwas still playing as if its very existence depended upon keepingup the noise, while the white horses attached to the band wagonwere frantically seeking to get their heads down for a nibble ofthe fresh green grass at the side of the road.
"There come the bulls," called Teddy.
"Yes, I see them."
"The bulls?" wondered Mrs. Cahill. "I didn't know they had bullsin the circus."
"That's what the show people call the elephants," laughed Phil."Teddy is talking show-talk now. We have a language of our own."
"I should say you do?" grumbled the widow.
"What's the bull in front got on his trunk, Phil?"
Phil shaded his eyes and gazed off down the street.
"That's my friend Emperor. I don't know what it is heis carrying. That's queer. I never saw him carryinganything in parade before, did you?"
"No."
For a moment both lads directed their attention to making outwhat it was that Emperor was carrying along.
"It looks to me like a basket of flowers," finally decided Phil.
"Has somebody been handing him a bouquet," grunted Teddy.
"It certainly looks that way."
"Why, I really believe he is coming in here."
"Coming here--an elephant coming into my front yard? Mercy me!"exclaimed Mrs. Cahill, starting up.
"Why, Mrs. Cahill, Emperor wouldn't hurt a little baby. I hopehe does come in. Sit still. Don't be afraid."
"He'll spoil my flower beds--he'll trample them all down andafter I've worked four weeks getting--"
"Yes; here he comes," exulted Phil.
At that moment Emperor, with his trainer, Mr. Kennedy, swung outof line and entered the garden gate. Turning to the left theyheaded directly across the lawn. The precious flower beds layright in his path.
"Oh, my flowers! They're ruined," moaned the widow.
"Watch him and you'll see," answered Phil, his face wreathedin smiles.
She did, and her eyes opened wider when Emperor cautiously raisedone ponderous foot after another until he had stepped clear ofthe first bed of flowers. The same thing happened when he got tothe second bed. Not even the imprint of his footfalls was lefton the fresh green grass of the lawn.
Mrs. Cahill's eyes were large and wondering. A sudden impulsestirred her to spring up and flee into the house.
Phil, noting it, laid a restraining hand lightly, on her arm.
"Don't be afraid," he reassured. "Emperor will not harm you.You see how careful he is of your lawn and your flower beds.I think he is coming here for some purpose."
Emperor and his trainer came to a half right in front of theporch, the elephant's little eyes fixed upon the slender formof Phil Forrest.
"Good boy, Emperor!" breathed Phil. "Did somebody present abasket of flowers to you?"
It was a big basket, and such a handsome collection offlowers did it contain as to cause Mrs. Cahill to open hereyes in wonder. A card was tied to the handle of the basketwith a big pink ribbon. Phil began to understand the meaningof the scene, and he felt sure the name on the card was thatof Mrs. Cahill.
A low spoken command from the trainer, and Emperor cautiously gotdown on his knees, keeping those small eyes on Phil Forrest allthe time.
"Mrs. Cahill, Emperor has been commissioned by the Great SparlingCombined Shows to present a basket of flowers to you in the nameof Mr. Sparling himself, and the show people, too. He hascarried it all the way from the lot this morning," declaredMr. Kennedy.
The people on the street were now pressing closer, in orderto see what was going to happen. Phil was smiling broadly,while Teddy was hugging himself with delight at Mrs.Cahill's nervousness.
"Emperor, give the flowers to the lady," commanded the trainer.
Slowly, the big elephant's trunk stretched out, extending thebasket toward her inch by inch, while the widow instinctivelyshrank far back in her chair.
At last the trunk reached her.
"Take it," said Phil.
She grasped the basket with a muttered, "thank you."
"Say good-bye, Emperor," directed the trainer.
Emperor curled his trunk on high, coughed mightily, then risingon his hind legs until he stood almost as high as the widow'scottage, he uttered a wild, weird trumpeting that fairly shookthe house.
Mrs. Cahill, in her fright, suddenly started back, her chairtipped over and she landed in a heap on the ground at the endof the porch.
The Circus Boys in Dixie Land; Or, Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South Page 5